The ideal flower for a shady garden is astilbe. It is valued among flower growers because of its longevity, vigorous flowering, as well as its reddish stems and spreading leaves, its unusual decoration during the period after flowering. To keep the flower healthy, you must follow simple rules for planting in the ground.
Selecting the right soil and planting site
Astilbe is a moisture-loving and shady plant, so areas near ponds and in the shade of trees and bushes are ideal places for it. It is best to plant Astilbe on the north side of the site. But you should make sure that there is protection from the winds. The soil should be loose and fertilized; for this, compost or peat is used. You should also clear the soil of weeds and other debris.
Flower hole and planting
The required hole depth for astilbe is 20–30 cm. To ensure good soil moisture retention, you can use a hydrogel. It is imperative to additionally fertilize the soil; to do this, sprinkle the bottom of the hole with humus or peat. We lower the rhizomes into the hole and sprinkle them with soil so as to cover the growth bud by 4–5 cm. Compact the soil so that there is no air layer between the soil. Pour plenty of water and fill the hole with sawdust or peat. But do not completely cover the seedling.
Hilling up a bush
Although astilbe is an unpretentious flower, there is still one feature that should not be missed when planting correctly.The rhizomes rise over time, becoming exposed on the surface, and the lower ones gradually die off. Therefore, it is necessary to hill the bushes in a timely manner. To do this, you need to periodically sprinkle the roots with soil and constantly water. Otherwise, the roots may dry out and the bush may be lost.
Abundant watering
The moisture-loving astilbe does not tolerate long droughts or open windy spaces. It must be watered every day. And in hot weather - both in the morning and in the evening. Constant maintenance of moist soil is the key to a healthy and beautiful bush. If you make a watering circle around the hole, this will retain moisture as long as possible. It is also recommended to loosen the soil around the flower after watering so that the earth does not clog and the bush can breathe.
Additional care
Until the bush takes root, you need to remove weeds around it. When the root system grows, it will not allow weeds to grow. Pest control also requires attention. The main enemies of astilbe are nematodes and spittlebug. The spittlebug appears in the leaf axils in the form of foamy secretions. It can be gotten rid of with the help of garden chemicals. With nematodes it is a little more difficult, because it affects the entire stem and penetrates the root. Therefore, when growths are found on the stem and the leaves are wilting, it is necessary to destroy the bush as early as possible to prevent infection of other plants.
Wintering astilbe
To prepare for the winter period, it is necessary to cut the bush at the root. Hilling with sawdust or soil by 10-15 cm. This will help to retain the necessary heat.If winters are cold and windy, you need to take care of additional shelter. To do this, you can use agrofibre or spruce branches made from wood shavings.
These easy-to-follow recommendations will help you plant and care for astilbe correctly. And let this beautiful flower decorate the garden and please the eye!
